Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Jean Dandridge (November 9, 1922 – September 8, 1965) was an African American singer and actress. In 1955, she became the first black actress to be nominated for an Academy Award.[3] The nomination was for Best Actress. She starred in many movies.

Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge in The Decks Ran Red trailer.jpg
Dandridge in movie trailer for The Decks Ran Red (1958).
Born
Dorothy Jean Dandridge

(1922-11-09)November 9, 1922
DiedSeptember 8, 1965(1965-09-08) (aged 42)
Cause of deathEmbolism[1] or Overdose[2]
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park
(Glendale, California)
Other namesDorothy Dandridge-Nicholas
Dorothy Nicholas
Dorothy Dandridge-Denison
Dorothy Denison
OccupationActress, Singer, Dancer
Years active1933–65
Spouse(s)
Harold Nicholas
(m. 1942; div. 1951)

Jack Denison
(m. 1959; div. 1962)
ChildrenHarolyn Suzanne Nicholas (b.1943; d.2003)
Parent(s)Ruby Dandridge
Cyril Dandridge
FamilyVivian Dandridge (sister)
Nayo Wallace (great-niece)

Dandridge was born in Cleveland, Ohio.[4] She died of a drug overdose in Los Angeles, California.[5]

References

  1. Robinson, Louie (March 1966). Dorothy Dandridge Hollywood's Tragic Enigma. Ebony. pp. 71. https://books.google.com/books?id=IjAJ7Wl1voUC&pg=PA70&#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2012-09-10. 
  2. Gorney, Cynthia (February 9, 1988). The Fragile Flame of Dorothy Dandridge; Remembering the Shattered Life Of a Beautiful 1950s Movie Star. pp. E2. 
  3. Earl Mills, Dorothy Dandridge: An Intimate Biography (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1999), p. 13
  4. Louie Robinson, 'Dorthy Dandridge; Hollywood's Tragic Enigma', Ebony Magazine, Vol XXI, No. 5 (March 1966), p. 74
  5. Earl Mills, Dorothy Dandridge: An Intimate Biography (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1999), p. 199